News

Secure housing for millions remains a global challenge

Published in Wednesday May 8th, 2013 In News on the Rapporteurs

For the millions of people facing forced evictions and displacement, access to secure and adequate housing continues to be a challenge. According to the Centre on Housing Rights and Evictions, it is estimated that more than 18 million people were evicted from their homes between 1998 and 2008

Chile’s social housing policy: creating socioeconomic ghettos?

Published in Wednesday May 8th, 2013 In In the media

Bajos de Mena — a housing project built on the periphery of Santiago between 1994-2004 — is currently the focus of a recently announced multimillion dollar government project to regenerate deprived areas. Despite having a population of more than 120,000, Bajos de Mena lacks a police or fire station, schools, good transportation links or even a supermarket. Housing vulnerable families from across the region, it has also become a hotbed of deprivation, social problems and crime. To understand how a project, which cost millions to build less than 20 years ago, once again requires such a huge investment, it is necessary to examine Chile’s unique social housing policy.

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City finally obeys court

Published in Friday May 3rd, 2013 In In the media

More than 100 residents of a block of flats who were embroiled in a bitter legal battle with the city of Johannesburg have moved into alternative accommodation. Yesterday the last residents of 7 Saratoga Avenue in Berea were moved to BVM, a property owned by the Johannesburg Social Housing Company, and the Ekuthuleni shelter.

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Rapporteur participates in World Bank meetings in Washington

Published in Thursday May 2nd, 2013 In News on the Rapporteurs

The Rapporteur was especially invited to discuss the review process of the World Bank safeguard policies, which she has been following since 2010.

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Foreclosure Settlement Checks Significantly Smaller Than Regulators Forecasted

Published in Thursday May 2nd, 2013 In In the media

Two weeks after the first payments began going out as part of the settlement struck in January with mortgage companies, homeowners who suffered improper foreclosures are describing a new injury. Many say they are being denied their rightful compensation under the terms of the deal.

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Housing Without Developers

Published in Tuesday April 30th, 2013 In Social movement news

(Português) Na semana passada o Studio X Mumbai realizou um workshop de um dia intitulado provocativamente “Habitação sem Construtoras”. Como elaborado em seu site, o workshop tentou desafiar a aparente inevitabilidade de soluções baseadas no mercado, para os problemas que eles mesmos associaram a privatização do mercado de habitação. Os participantes do workshop discutiram como o desenvolvimento das favelas na Índia e as habitações públicas no ocidente desafiaram as normas aceitas de soluções baseadas no mercado.

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Homeowners in Flood Zones Opt to Rebuild, Not Move

Published in Tuesday April 30th, 2013 In In the media

A proposal to buy the damaged homes of New Yorkers who want to relocate after Hurricane Sandy is finding few takers, as most residents opt to rebuild, state officials said on Friday. “It’s up to the homeowner, and the vast bulk of homeowners are deciding to stay right where they are and rebuild,” Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo said at a news conference in Albany.

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Special Rapporteur sends 19 communications during the second semester of 2012

Published in Tuesday April 30th, 2013 In Dialogue with countries

Check the communications sent by the Special Rapporteurs, as well as the answers received from the Member States, referring to the second half of 2012.

Heavy Rains Displace Hundreds in Jowhar, Somalia

Published in Monday April 29th, 2013 In In the media

Torrential rains battered Jowhar for more than 20 hours, flooding villages and displacing more than 200 families, Somalia’s RBC Radio reported. The rains started early Friday, causing residents of Badda As village to flee their homes.

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Floods Havoc Hits Murang’a Kiambu Counties in Kenya

Published in Friday April 26th, 2013 In In the media

Over 10,000 families have been rendered homeless by floods in Central region, Kenya Red Cross officials have said. Red Cross official in-charge of Central and upper Eastern region Gerard Bombe said the most affected parts are Murang’a, Nyeri and Kiambu counties. He said over 2,000 acres under maize, bananas and beans plantation have also been destroyed by the floods.

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